Did you know this month is #PlasticFreeJuly? Since I moved to California, the issue of reducing my plastic consumption has always taken a front seat on my conservation wagon. I’ve got to be honest, there have been lots of bumps, or more appropriately, plastic bottles, in the road, but with the ever-growing options of plastic-free products out in the world these days, we’re steaming full speed ahead in our efforts to reduce our plastic consumption.
Let me start by saying that I rely on plastics daily, my contact lenses (without which I’d be legally blind) are one form of plastic that I will always depend on (and be grateful for). So I understand that there is a myriad of ways in which plastics make our lives better, so there’s no shame in using plastics, but there is shame in over-using them (i.e., those 24-packs of plastic water bottles I always scowl at when I’m checking out at Trader Joe’s, well and everything else at Trader Joes, really).
My goal here is not to shame or stress anyone out (if you’ve been to the grocery store trying to find plastic-free options you understand the frustration involved), but to provide easy options to reduce your plastic consumption in a manageable way. Now, a disclaimer, I have given myself full and guiltless permission to spend more money on these products. Not only have I found that they are better quality (so I use less), but I think it’s worth it to dedicate a larger portion of my budget to support sustainable, ethical, and small businesses. I know that many people don’t have the ability to splurge on products like these, but there are so many ways to be plastic-free on a tighter budget, so if you’re interested in that, please let me know and I can dedicate a separate post to finding more affordable alternatives (i.e., instead of a quip toothbrush, you can buy a disposable bamboo toothbrush for a quarter of the price).
Let’s start in the bathroom. For me, the kitchen is a nightmare of plastics because I just don’t have the time to make my own sour cream or tortilla chips. But that’s a whole other adventure that I’ll chronicle in another post. I found that the bathroom, which includes our shower and washing products, and my beauty and skincare products, was a much easier challenge to undertake. And I’ve got to pat myself on the back here for a second and brag that our bathroom is 80% plastic-free. Can I get an, Amen! [insert praise hands]
So without further ado, here are our [nearly] plastic-free options to liberate your bathroom from the confines of plasticdom.
For those pearly whites: Toothpaste/Floss/ToothbrushÂ
A quick disclaimer on my skincare routine. I have extremely oily, acne-prone skin, so my ultimate goal for skincare is to lightly moisturize, deep-clean, and prevent breakouts. If you have dry skin, you may check out more of the products from the brands I feature here, they have a great variety available! I also try to minimize the amount of “stuff” that’s in the products I use, so my focus is on less ingredients (but also as affordable as possible). I’ve done a lot of research and testing on these products and they work really well for me.
For that marvelous mug: Facial rounds/Facewash/Toner/Clay face mask/Gel cream/Mandelic serum
For that bodacious bod: Body mist/Body oil/Native deodorant
For the shower: Agave washcloth/Saftey Razor/French soap bars/Shampoo + Conditioner/Public Goods refills/Native bar soap
If you’ve made it this far, thanks for hanging in there and I hope you find some of this information useful! I’ve also linked most of these products on my LiketoKnow.it page, so you can shop them easily!
Please share some of your favorite minimal plastic options in the comments below, I always like to try new products!
The Burrier Annex 